Saudis rally against Riyadh crackdown

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 18:08:02 GMT

Saudis have staged a protest rally in the eastern town of Rabiyia to condemn Riyadh’s suppression of anti-government demonstrations.

The demonstrators also expressed solidarity with the victims’ of government crackdown on protests in the Eastern Province.

Qatif and Awamiyah have been the centers of anti-government protests in the oil-rich region since last year, but despite a violent crackdown on demonstrations there, it seems that protests are now spreading to other towns and cities in the province.

Saudi troops have arrested at least 25 demonstrators over the past week. They were detained without warrant and taken to unknown locations.

Saudis have held peaceful demonstrations in Eastern Province since February last year on an almost regular basis, demanding reforms, freedom of expression and the release of political prisoners.

Protesters also want an end to economic and religious discrimination against the oil-rich region. Several demonstrators have been killed and dozens of activists have been arrested since the beginning of protests in the region.

Last week, protest rallies were held across the province to demand the prosecution of those who opened fire on demonstrators one week earlier. Saudi security forces broke up the rallies using force and arrested several demonstrators.

Riyadh has intensified its crackdown on protesters since the beginning of 2012.

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